Three different players started at center for Southern Miss last season.

Arguably, the position where stability is paramount – with the possible exception of quarterback – had none in 2013.

After losing two of the three starters from a year ago, the Golden Eagles experimented with converting several offensive linemen to the center spot. Randall Agee, who started the final two games last season, was back, but the Southern Miss coaching staff needed more.

Enter Cameron Tom, a 2013 Conference USA all-freshman honoree at right tackle. Not a slam dunk, by any stretch. But it's ended up being a home run for the Golden Eagles.

The sophomore Baton Rouge, La., native has drawn rave reviews since taking over at center from head coach Todd Monken to quarterback Nick Mullens.

"He's going to be really good at center," Monken said. "I think he's going to be special there."

Ask his coaches and teammates about Tom, and they'll talk about his 6-foot-4, 287-pound frame. They'll mention both his hands and feet.

But the first thing out of their mouths doesn't have anything to do with his physical attributes.

"Real smart guy," Mullens said. "He's a genius, actually, on and off the field. We've had every single college class together since we've been here, so I'm pretty tight with him. It's really good to have a general up there on the line that can make the calls.

"It's great to feel comfortable at that spot."

First-year offensive line coach Luke Meadows pointed to a play during a recent practice that illustrates for anyone who wants to know about Tom's ability to handle the added pressure of making the move to center.

"The thing that's been great for me, us being a no-huddle, tempo team, you've got to put a lot of different calls in because they guards and tackles really can't handle as much of it right now," he said. "So I'm putting a load on the guys I consider the most intelligent football players.

"And we made a check today with Cam that you usually don't get from your center for a couple of years. It was a check from one play to the next play with the pressure – he made the check in a second."

Tom, a marketing major who intends to switch to finance after football season, said he feels more comfortable in the middle of the line. But added that the year spent at tackle helped make his transition easier.

"Being at tackle, I kind of knew everyone's position and knew what everyone was doing," he said. "I just had to change my mindset."

Aside from filling a void at center for Southern Miss, the soft-spoken, mild-mannered Tom has also helped calm what, at times last season, was a turbulent go of things for the offensive line.

In addition to center, not one position along the front five featured the same starter for all 12 games. Three different players, including Tom, started games at right tackle. The same goes for center, while left tackle, left guard and right guard featured two different players each that started at those spots.

In November, offensive line coach Pete Perot was relieved of his duties. Aaron Reed and Garrett Clark, both of whom started games for Southern Miss last season, did not return to the team.